Hi Andi!
My friends love horror movies, especially around Halloween, but I panic and get too scared to watch, so what should I do? I want to be braver! :(
-This is a Horror Show!
Dear This is a Horror Show,
You are certainly not alone in you fear of scary movies. Obviously, that is because horror movies are designed to shock, frighten and strike fear in their viewers. If you are not a fan of scary movies, then you probably find yourself avoiding the TV around Halloween. While you are not compelled to enjoy or even participate in the viewing of scary movies, you might not want to miss out on the time with your friends.
One option is to outright avoid them. This would have to include telling your friends you do not like scary movies, otherwise they may think you’re just avoiding them and not the movies. However, telling them can lead to them giving you a hard time and making you feel worse. If this is the route you choose to go, then remember they are joking around and that you are not a freak or outcast for not enjoying a genre of movie. It says nothing about you as a person!
If you feel like taking on the challenge and being brave here are a few things to do before a scary movie:
Look into the Crystal Ball:
Basically, prepare yourself for the terror by reading up on what to expect in this movie. For starters, read the synopsis. If you know the story before hand, you can prepare yourself for what you might see. Being that you tend to panic, you might even over think and imagine the scariest things and when the actual movie is playing; you may find it is far less scary then you imagined. If the story line isn’t important to you and you don’t mind knowing the end before hand, then look up the ending online. If it’s a good and happy ending, then you can remind yourself of that throughout the movie to alleviate any overbearing fears during course of the movie; just don’t spoil the ending for your friends! However, even if the ending is not happy, it is probably most likely stupid. I don’t want to spoil any endings for anyone by giving examples, but basically, laugh at how unrealistic or stupid it is.
Read the Writing (in blood) on the Wall:
The unrealistic eeriness or creepy plots of magic, ghosts, murders and psychos may not be what bothers you, but rather you hate the startle factor, the loud noises, the evil doll jumping out from under the bathroom sink, the man in the cape and ghost mask suddenly appear in the sliding glass window, the crazy possessed women flying at the camera, well you get it. If this is the case, look for all the clues that this will happen. Only VERY GOOD and unpredictable scary movies will have a scary pop-out without any noticeable clues. Most movies will have a change in the music. Maybe the sounds soften, or there is the classic effect of the lingering high note before the killer jumps down from a random tree, etc. Also be mindful of the camera angles; is the camera focused in a particular door or window that appears normal? If so you will most likely see something pop out of it or crash through it. One thing I personally have noticed, a lot of horror movies use the false-scare technique. In this technique, the camera will show the protagonist walking up to let’s say a closet door, the door will be slowly panned in on, and she will open it slowly with the music lingering to find nothing is there, she sighs and turns around and there suddenly is the ghost or intruder. Same thing when someone shuts the mirror cabinet in the bathroom, which is a particularly calm scene that doesn’t put someone on edge. Then, suddenly when the cabinet shuts, there is a reflection of the scary thing behind them. I went on the tangent for two reasons; one to show you how cliché horror movies are, and two, to let you know that these movies are designed to scare you at the most predictable or the most unpredictable moments, therefore, always be ready to jump!
Nightmare on York Road:
Sometimes the worst part of a scary movie is after, when you’re alone with all your thoughts and imagination. I personally find myself on edge after watching a horror movie, especially at night. As opposed to sleeping (really, not sleeping) with the lights on, with a garlic wreath and a wooden stake, and with Ghostbusters and 9-11 on speed dial, I simply put on a funny show or a cartoon for a few minutes before bed. This helps you refocus your thoughts so you don’t scare yourself or have a nightmare!
It’s Just a Movie:
I know that you are a woman who is intelligent enough to know that unlike The Ring, watching a horror movie won’t cause anything to happen, and that it is just a movie. However, knowing this doesn’t make it any less frightening! So try to enjoy the fear. People watch horror movies because it is a thrill. It gets your heart beating fast and keeps you engaged in the movie. While this can be difficult to understand, it is the case. Think of it as riding a rollercoaster as opposed to a pleasant walk in the park. While you may enjoy the calm pleasantries, you need to understand why people watch scary movies, for the thrill. If you embrace the fear in the movie, you may find it kind of fun in a very weird way.
Remember, there is plenty of other stuff to do around Halloween then watch scary movies. If you really don’t want to watch any, you can my your friends those awkward popcorn glove things, or see how much candy corn you can eat by the end of reading a chapter in your Macro Economics textbook. My advice is to get over your fear sooner than later and just fight through it. It won’t be easy at first but don’t be discouraged if you panic again, because the more movies you get through the easier it will be to watch them each time. Also, don’t think your friends are sitting there completely unfazed by anything that happens in the movie. They are being frightened too!
Trick or Treat and Your Fears, Defeat
Xoxo Andi